•It's free for download but you have to pay a tiny bit to mail order it or buy it from a company. If you're getting Linux for more than 2-3 PCs, you can also get training and support at a small free, if you choose to have it. Else it's Linux community on Net to your rescue. •If you want to get comfortable with Linux, you don't have to let go of windows. Get Linux installed on a seprate partition and you can switch between Windows and Linux. There are some Linux versions that run off CDs too-xandross and Knoppix. •You don't have to be a geek to work with Linux. There are Desktop environments that let you work in Linux as you work in Linux as you would in Windows.

Linux hand in decreasing PC prices. The PCs bundle operating system. Linux being an open source operating system, means that code that runs is open for everyone to see, work with, modify and develop their own innovative apps for it. The deal with this experimentation is that you have to share knowledge you gained and software you created with public domain. So operating system comes to you for free, or if there are some copyrighted application on it, you play up a bit. But this is nothing compared to fortune people spend on OSs like windows. And a company bundles Linux and applications based on it with a computer, quite a bit of software cost comes down.

Linux came into being about 11 years ago- it was developed by Linux Tornados of Finland along with a group of programmers from open source software movement. Linux was mostly something only geeks worked with. And yes, it was mostly about commands and programming. But over years with so many Linux enthusiasts (about 50 million of them) working on it and sharing knowledge about it, quite a few versions have come up which are as easy to use as windows. And developers are still free to work with code and enhance it.

Linux is growing steadily year after year. With a passionate community backing it, with big companies Like IBM and HP pledging their support for it, it's no wonder Linux- wonder operating system for servers of past, has also made it to desktops of today. Not in a sweeping way yet, but in ways that will help you -the user. PC prices are already on their way down. And you get more choice with operating systems and applications. From being an OS only computer professionals had heard about, Linux, in a short time, has made a transition into lucrative and high profile home PC segment. Most of decision to switchover sounds very economical. From a measly base of a few thousand users, Linux now boasts of close to 50 million users, cracking monolith of Microsoft's monopoly. Companies like IBM, HP and Dell have also taken to Linux in a big way. Microsoft doesn't agree with free concept at all-the software is free but support isn't Windows code to outsiders so they could build on to it. Very recently though, company has allowed part of code to be opened up to some US government are vying with each other to get tech-savvy and help citizens through e-governance, opening up of OS code is important, countries like India need a variety of regional language fonts and content to be created which can't done without Microsoft's help, if choice is Windows. Since this isn't happening much, they have gone ahead with adopting Linux.

Linux is based on commercial OS, UNIX. All OSs tries to pack in command line management of systems. System administrators of companies use command lines all times as their lifeline, but it's not really meant for regulars users. But UNIX and Linux are not all about just command line stuff. UNIX has had a graphical user interface for 30 years. In its 11 years Linux has always had always had a GUI too-in fact a choice of GUIs.

Linux Versions: If there are so many people working on it. There's likely to be many Linux versions too. Many companies working on Linux have come up with what are called Linux distributions. There are Linux versions that are compiled and packaged and released with various additional software. The popular distributions or destroys include Red Hat Linux Mandrake Linux, Corel Linux SUSE Linux and Debian . it's just like having different flavors of ice cream. True to spirit of open source, if you download distro from company's Website, it is free for use. But distros are usally quite huge. If you are getting distorts from company, be ready to pay up a tiny bit. Companies compile packages, make installation hassle free, bundle applications, add a manual, and extend any support you need. So they charge a fee for all this.

One note here though: free in Linux stands for freedom of choice, to redistribute, to install a feature, freedom to modify source code. That's spirit of Linux being free.

Linux better than other OS

Linux users won't even bat an eyelid before they say an emphasis comes from a deep dislike of Microsoft's practice of changing earth for software. But a lot of it comes from fact they are ready to swear upon-that Linux is more stable. There are no blue screens and no viruses to speak of. Linux has a better security support for multi-users, lets you set up a stable server, internet gateways etc, and still lets it-self to be used as a desktop workstation. Add to that it being free, and they argue that you don't lose anything by giving it a try. You get free support on Net quickly on any query you may have. And you don't even have to wipe out your Windows. Just get Linux on a different hard disk partition and free to switch between OSs as you please .

Myths about Linux

Installation: Linux is hard to install, isn't it? Not really. Most people haven't ever installed Windows on their computers either-since it comes preloaded. Linux is as easy-some say easier-to install compared to Windows. You can install it through a graphical user interface like Windows. But what really stumps most people in installing Linux on a second partition on their hard disk, when they want to be able to use both operating systems.

In course of my career, I’ve worked with many people who I knew were smart but were convinced that they couldn’t learn how to do new things on a computer. At some point, they’d convinced themselves that they weren’t one of those “computer people”. I would try to teach them how to do something that would make their work a lot easier or faster, and I could see them shut down immediately. “I can’t do stuff like that. I’m just not good at it.”

In a few cases, my colleagues were simply amazed that I knew how to do things like upload photos to Internet or how to start a new folder in Windows. Some would tell me that I must have some special gift for technology. I would just laugh and tell them that nothing could be further from truth! I have a degree in psychology. I’m not a math and science type of person, and if it weren’t for patience of my tech-minded husband and friends, I never would have learned how to do these things.

The fact is, computers are such a part of our lives, that you can’t afford to think of yourself as not a “computer person”. The reason I think that a lot of people are intimidated when learning about computers is that so much of instructions and directions are full of jargon and assume that people have as much technological knowledge as people who work with computers for a living.

I’m convinced that if I can do it, anyone else can do it too. All it takes is an open mind, confidence, and someone to explain things to you step by step in plain English.

--------------------- Aside from using anti-virus software, there is another way to keep some email viruses or worms from driving you crazy and clogging up your inbox. While "Sobig" virus seems to have died down, there are sure to be some like it in future. If you would like to prevent these bogus Emails from reaching your inbox, you can set up rules in Outlook or Outlook Express to send them directly to delete folder.

Although Sobig virus seems to be under control, it might be good practice to do this now. That way when next big virus comes around, you'll be able to filter it out right away. It might seem like its difficult, but I know that anyone can do this. If you're smart enough to do your taxes and balance your checkbook, you can do this, trust me.

If you're using Outlook Express, go to Tools, then select "message rules" and then "mail". A box will pop up with buttons on right side of window. Hit "new" button. Another box pops up with three windows. In first box, click box next to "Where subject line contains specific words". In second box, click "delete it". Now in third box it should say, "Apply this rule after message arrives/Where Subject line contains specific words/Delete it." Click on words "contains specific words".

This is where you tell program what words to look for in subject line. It’s very important to remember that this is case sensitive, meaning that if you put "abc" in, it will only delete emails with "abc" in subject, and not "ABC" or "Abc". For Sobig virus, there were seven subject lines that were commonly used. If you would like to read more about this, go to http://www.webpro.com/iq/SobigF.asp The subject lines are:

That movie Wicked screensaver Your application Approved My details Details Your details Thank you

It’s a good idea to copy and paste phrases above to make sure capitalization is exactly same. (copy=control C, Paste=Control V) Enter first phrase into box and then click on "add" button to right. That phrase will appear in box below. You can add as many phrases as you'd like, clicking "add" after each one. When you're done, hit "ok" Then hit "ok" again. At this point, we are back to one box open with buttons on right. Be sure to click "apply now" button if you want rule to apply to email that is already in your inbox as well as any future emails. When you are done with that, click "ok" button and you're finished.